US2022299926A1PendingUtilityA1

Image forming apparatus

45
Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KKPriority: Mar 18, 2021Filed: Mar 18, 2021Published: Sep 22, 2022
Est. expiryMar 18, 2041(~14.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Naofumi Soga
B65H 1/14B65H 2405/324B65H 2407/21B65H 2801/06B65H 3/0684B65H 2405/114G03G 15/6514G03G 15/6511
45
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Claims

Abstract

An image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. A sheet feed unit supplies the sheet to the image forming unit. A sheet tray is provided in the sheet feed unit. The sheet is placed on the sheet tray. An elevating plate is arranged on the sheet tray. The elevating plate can be ascended and descended between a descended position where the sheet is set and an ascending position higher than the descended position. A moving member can move between a first position in which the elevating plate is arranged in the descended position and a second position in which the elevating plate can move to the ascending position. A shielding member is interlocked with the ascending and descending operation of the elevating plate. The shielding member shields the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the descended position.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming component configured to form an image on a sheet;   a sheet feeder configured to supply the sheet to the image forming component;   a sheet tray provided in the sheet feeder and on which the sheet is placed;   an elevating plate arranged on the sheet tray and configured to ascend and descend between a descended position where the sheet is set and an ascending position higher than the descended position;   a moving member movable between a first position where the elevating plate is in the descended position and a second position where the elevating plate can move to the ascending position; and   a shielding member interlocked with an ascending and descending operation of the elevating plate and configured to shield the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the descended position.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the elevating plate shields the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the ascending position.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , with the proviso that the shielding member does not shield the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the ascending position. 
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shielding member is rotatably provided around an axis extending horizontally.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the elevating plate and the shielding member comprise engaging members that engage with each other in the ascending and descending operation of the elevating plate.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the engaging member comprises a protrusion provided on one of the elevating plate and the shielding member, and a rail provided on the other of the elevating plate and the shielding member and comprising two walls sandwiching the protrusion.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the protrusion has a columnar shape, and   the two walls extend parallel to each other.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 in the two walls, the portions on the side of the moving member are connected to each other.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shielding member entirely shields the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the descended position.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sheet tray is a manual feed tray.   
     
     
         11 . A sheet handling mechanism, comprising:
 a sheet feeder configured to supply a sheet to an image forming component;   a sheet tray provided in the sheet feeder and on which a plurality of sheets are placed;   an elevating plate arranged on the sheet tray and configured to ascend and descend between a descended position where the sheet is set and an ascending position higher than the descended position;   a moving member movable between a first position where the elevating plate is in the descended position and a second position where the elevating plate can move to the ascending position; and   a shielding member interlocked with an ascending and descending operation of the elevating plate and configured to shield the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the descended position.   
     
     
         12 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the elevating plate shields the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the ascending position.   
     
     
         13 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 11 , with the proviso that the shielding member does not shield the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the ascending position. 
     
     
         14 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the shielding member is rotatably provided around an axis extending horizontally.   
     
     
         15 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the elevating plate and the shielding member comprise engaging members that engage with each other in the ascending and descending operation of the elevating plate.   
     
     
         16 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the engaging member comprises a protrusion provided on one of the elevating plate and the shielding member, and a rail provided on the other of the elevating plate and the shielding member and comprising two walls sandwiching the protrusion.   
     
     
         17 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the protrusion has a columnar shape, and   the two walls extend parallel to each other.   
     
     
         18 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 16 , wherein
 in the two walls, the portions on the side of the moving member are connected to each other.   
     
     
         19 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the shielding member entirely shields the moving member when the elevating plate is located at the descended position.   
     
     
         20 . The sheet handling mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the sheet tray is a manual feed tray.

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